Sir Ernest Rutherford 233 



which exploded with great violence into a heavy gas of extreme 

 radio-activity, which disintegrated in its turn in the course of 

 another seven days, and it was only after another year's work 

 that he was able to show that the last result of this rapid 

 release of energy was gold. 



He goes on to the year 1953, when the first Holsten- 

 Roberts engine brought induced radio-activity into the 

 sphere of industrial production, and began to replace the 

 steam engine. The result was an age of astonishing pros- 

 perity, but of course the coal-mines and oil-wells were 

 doomed, gold depreciated, and in the end the results 

 were terrible as well as splendid. 



Scientists do not deny that man may eventually find 

 means for utilizing atomic energy, but that day is still a 

 very long way off. The difficulties in the way are enor- 

 mous, and so far Science is only touching the fringes of the 

 subject. Yet there is certainly no need for such panic as 

 was caused when in 1924 Dr T. F. Wall, of Sheffield 

 University, announced that he was endeavouring to split 

 up the atom of copper. Many of his correspondents 

 seemed to be under the impression that the result of split- 

 ting an atom would be the destruction of the world we 

 live in. One wrote : 



Dear Sir, 



Please don't blow up the atom. I am terrified. Please — 

 please leave things alone. 



One who is Frightened 



Another letter ran as follows : 



Having read to-day of your wonderful invention for blowing 

 up the world next Wednesday, kindly make it Thursday or 

 next Sunday, after we have had our half-holiday and drawn our 

 September salaries. Trusting this will meet your kind approval 

 and wishing you every success, 



A Believer in Inventions 



